Combination wire twister and tightener



Aug. 8, 1939. l.. JOHNSON COMBINATION WIRE TWISTER AND TIGHTENER Filed June' 15, 1958 ein W. .A mw .NH

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 COMBINATION WIRE TWISTER ANDl TIGHTENER Leonard Johnson, Beverly Shores, Ind.

Application June 13, 1938, Serial No. 213,548

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved Wire twister and tightener such as are used in assembling and reinforcing wooden forms for concrete walls or building foundations.

A principal object of this invention lies Yin the provision of a device which will simultaneously twist and tighten the wire all in one operation.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a device which can be readily applied to any concrete forms or similar devices.

A still further important object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus which may be quickly removed after the wire is twisted and tightened, and which can be immediately used over again in another location.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a wire twisting device which also automatically tightens the wire, of means for forcing the twisted wire down flat against the object about which the wire is tightened and twisted.

Another and still further important object of the invention resides in the construction of an apparatus for twisting and tightening wire or the like, which is composed of two or at the most three parts, the two working parts being so arranged that an additional extra twist of the wire without a further tensioning or pulling can be imparted toward the end of the twisting operation, and the device additionally provides means for accomplishing this additional twist in an automatic manner.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specication.

The invention, in a preferred form, is shown in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form for concrete, the same being partially broken away to effectively show the positioning and operation of the device of this invention and particularly the wire looped around the wooden supports.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device of this invention.

Figure 3 is a section of the device taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an end view of the apparatus of this invention with an optional Wire flattening plate added thereto.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the lines 5-5 of Figure 4 and showing the device in operative position.

Figure 6 is an end view of one element of the device withv 'an additional wire clinching and attening element therein.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the device,` showing the additional rod of Figure 6.-

As shown in the drawing: l

The reference numeral Ill indicates generally a wooden form for concrete or the like vhaving spacers or braces II and which is held together by wire loops l2 to be twisted and tightened by the device of this invention shown Yat I4. The reference numeral -I4 is the casing of the device of this invention as best shown in Figure 2. A slot is cut out of the end of the casing I4 leaving the side portions I6 which t over the uprights 30 preventing the casing I4 from turning when the device is so engaged with an upright. 'Ihe inner face of the cylindrical casing I4 is screwthreaded as best shown in Figure 3 at I8 and is provided with an inner externally screw-threaded cylinder 20 which is rotatably positioned inside the outer cylindrical casing I4, and said inner cylinder 20 is operated by a removable handle 22 which passes through suitable holes 24 in the cylinder 20.

The wire I2 is looped around one upright 26 and through the two walls of sheathing 28. The tightener of the invention is set on the upright 30 and the ends of the wire loop I2 are pulled through the device and preliminarily temporarily twisted around the handle 22 at 32.

In operation, the wire loop is twisted and tightened by unscrewing the inner cylinder 20 from the outer cylinder I4 by means o-f the rod or handle 22. The rotating of the wire causes a twisting action, and the tightening of the wire is caused by the outward movement of the inner cylinder 20 by the unscrewing process.

The device can be supplied with an additional plate 34 as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. By preliminarily running the ends of the wire I2 through the small hole 36 in the center of the plate, the twist in the wire will begin close to the upright 30. The plate is supplied with beveled grooves 40 preventing the drawing or breaking of the wire by sharp metal corners.

This insures against loosening of the wire when the device is removed.

Another auxiliary means for obtaining the twist close to the form is best shown in Figures 6 and 7. A rod 38 is fitted into the inner cylinder 20 at the inside end. Ihe wire can then be temporarily and preliminarily twisted around the rod 38 instead of the handle 22.

This device is cheap and easy to manufacture. It is economical because one device can be used to twist and tighten all the wires on a form. Most devices, heretofore, have been required to remain attached to the form so as to hold the wire taut until the concrete has set. The wire tightener and twister of this invention is simple and easy to operate, making it a very desirable asset to building contractors.

This device might easily be adapted to other forms of wire tightening and twisting, such as wiring up boxes or crates, and so I do not propose to limit the claims to that of reinforcing concrete forms.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention,V and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A wire twister and tightener comprising two cylinder casings, one screw-threaded inside the other, and a handle to rotate the inner cylinder, and a shoulder in the outer cylindrical casing to rotatably but non-screw-threadedly retain the inner cylinder.

2. A wire twister and tightener comprising two cylinder casings, one screw-threaded inside the other, and a handle to rotate the inner cylinder, said handle comprising a rod positioned in opposed openings in the inner cylinder, and the outer cylindrical casing having a slot cut in its rear end, and a plate having an opening in its center loosely positioned in the space formed by said slot.

3- A wire twister and tightener comprising two cylinder casings, one screw-threaded inside the other, and a handle to rotate the inner cylinder, and a rod extending across the diameter of the inner cylinder at the end opposite from the handle.

4. A wire twister and tightener comprising two cylinder casings, one screw-threaded inside the other, and a handle to rotate the inner cylinder,

said handle comprising a rod positioned in opposed openings in the inner cylinder, and the outer cylindrical casing having a slot cut in its `rear end and a rod extending across the diameter of the inner cylinder at the end opposite from the handle, said rod serving to temporarily flatten the twisted wire against its support.

5. A wire twister and tightener comprising two cylinder casings, one screw-threaded inside the other, and a handle to rotate the inner cylinder, said handle comprising a rod positioned in opposed openings in the inner cylinder, the outer cylindrical casing having a slot cut in its rear end, and a plate having an opening in its center loosely positioned in the space formed by said slot, said plate serving to iiatten the twisted wire against its support.

LEONARD JOHNSON. 

